Marv Harshman as a basketball player for the Navy team, December 9, 1942.

Marv Harshman as a basketball player for the Navy team, December 9, 1942.

Photo: P-I File

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Marv Harshman was the 1985-1986 Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. The original caption does not indicate the date of this photograph.

Marv Harshman was the 1985-1986 Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. The original caption does not indicate the date of this photograph.

Photo: P-I File

Image 6 of 32

Jack Friel, right, retired as the Washigton State University basketball coach in 1958. Friel is shown here turning the basketball over to the new Cougar coach, Marv Harshman at a meeting of the Puget Sound Sportswriters and Casters organization. less

Jack Friel, right, retired as the Washigton State University basketball coach in 1958. Friel is shown here turning the basketball over to the new Cougar coach, Marv Harshman at a meeting of the Puget Sound ... more

Photo: P-I File

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A 1958 file photo of Marv Harsman.

A 1958 file photo of Marv Harsman.

Photo: P-I File

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Marv Harshman, center, as the coach of the Pacific Lutheran College basketball team, 1958.

Marv Harshman, center, as the coach of the Pacific Lutheran College basketball team, 1958.

Photo: P-I File

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The original photo caption read: As he retired in 1983, Husky coach Marv Harsman had two unfulfilled wishes: beating Kentucky and playing St. John's.

The original photo caption read: As he retired in 1983, Husky coach Marv Harsman had two unfulfilled wishes: beating Kentucky and playing St. John's.

The December 1946 photo caption read: Marv Harshman, one of the two "Marvelous Marvs" of the Tacoma Indians' pro football team, is presented with a lei and aloha greeting by Mildred Irving upon the team's arrival at Honolulu for a game against the Warriors. less

The December 1946 photo caption read: Marv Harshman, one of the two "Marvelous Marvs" of the Tacoma Indians' pro football team, is presented with a lei and aloha greeting by Mildred Irving upon the team's ... more

Photo: P-I File

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UW basketball coach Marv Harshman watches as his Huskies take on California in January 1982. Washington won 74-62.

UW basketball coach Marv Harshman watches as his Huskies take on California in January 1982. Washington won 74-62.

Marv Harshman, the Husky's coach, reacts to a UW basketball game. January 1981.

Marv Harshman, the Husky's coach, reacts to a UW basketball game. January 1981.

Photo: P-I File

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Husky coach Marv Harshman reacts to a tense game. January 1981.

Husky coach Marv Harshman reacts to a tense game. January 1981.

Photo: P-I File

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Harshman at a Husky game, January 1982.

Harshman at a Husky game, January 1982.

Photo: P-I File

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UW coach Marv Harshman (left) with Seattle Pacific University coach Les Habegger, who later was a coach for the Seattle Supersonics. June 6, 1973.

UW coach Marv Harshman (left) with Seattle Pacific University coach Les Habegger, who later was a coach for the Seattle Supersonics. June 6, 1973.

Photo: P-I File

Image 28 of 32

Harshman at a Husky game, December 1972.

Harshman at a Husky game, December 1972.

Photo: P-I File

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The original January 1982 caption read: Readers say Marv Harshman's Huskies have been unfairly judged.

The original January 1982 caption read: Readers say Marv Harshman's Huskies have been unfairly judged.

Photo: P-I File

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Coach Marv Harshman talks with a player during a Husky game, January 1981.

Coach Marv Harshman talks with a player during a Husky game, January 1981.

Photo: P-I File

Image 31 of 32

Marv Harshman greets the crowd at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Marv Harshman greets the crowd at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Photo: P-I File

Image 32 of 32

Legendary Washington basketball coach Marv Harshman dead at 95

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Marv Harshman, a hall of fame basketball coach who led the Huskies and the Cougars in his 40-year career, died Friday morning. He was 95.

A Northwest legend, Harshman started as a multi-sport coach at Pacific Lutheran University before moving on to Washington State and the University of Washington, where he found fame and acclaim.

It was at UW that Harshman coached current Husky coach Lorenzo Romar, NBA standout Detlef Schremf and more than a dozen other NBA draftees before being forced into retirement in 1985. His career ended with repeat Pac-10 Championships, and he was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1984.

At 90, Harshman traveled to Springfield, Mass., where he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. For years he also was a regular at college games and the annual state high school basketball tournaments. Harshman was longtime friends with UCLA coaching legend John Wooden, who died in 2010 at age 99.

Born Oct. 4, 1917, in Eau Claire, Wis., Harshman moved to the Northwest as a child and graduated from Lake Stevens High School, according to a UW statement. He lettered 13 times in four sports while at PLU, graduating in 1942. He served the next three years for the U.S. Navy before returning to PLU to coach.

Harshman coached at PLU from 1946 until 1958, when he moved to Wazzu. He left WSU in 1971 for UW, where he earned a 246-146 record before retiring.

In that time, Harshman also led the United States to a gold medal in the 1975 Pan American Games, and was named Seattle’s sportsman of the year for the achievement. He served on the U.S. Olympic Committee for five years.

Harshman was 68 when he was forced to retire by UW President William Gerberding, after the 1985 season when the Huskies were 22-10. In his final five seasons in Seattle, Harshman's teams compiled a 95-55 record.

In a statement Friday, Romar said Harshman has a national reputation and legacy.

"You're talking about coaching at PLU, Washington State and Washington, and his own background as an athlete - he was just a household name," Romar said, according to a UW statement.

"I've gone to many banquets and award shows where he was being honored and he just was revered by so many people; everyone from Bobby Knight to Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) and on and on and on. I could always say I played for Marv Harshman and right away those great ones know who he is -- not just in the state of Washington."

After retirement, Harshman wrote an autobiography, called high school games for KOMO/4 and stumped for Romar, whom Harshman supported publicly even before he was hired on at UW in 2002.

Speaking with the Seattle P-I in 2007, Harshman said he preferred to coach football, as he did along with basketball in his early days at PLU. A transfer to Washington State University in 1958 saw Harshman focus solely on basketball, but the former All-America fullback still missed the gridiron.

"I really like football the best, liked to coach it the best," Harshman said. "My first major job was with Washington State in basketball. Somebody said I should have waited to see if I could get a job in football."

In January 2008, "Marv Harshman Court" was unveiled at UW. In addition to the naming of Harshman Court, a committee of former players, chaired by Steve Hawes, raised more than a half million dollars to endow a scholarship in Harshman's name.

"This is such an honor. I am humbled and proud," Harshman said during that 2008 ceremony. "I have been fortunate to have been touched by so many great people, from former players to my fellow coaches and so many great friends over the years."

Harshman remained healthy well into his 80s, suffering a heart problem at 83. Near his 90th birthday, he guessed he had another 10 years left.

This report contains information from the Seattle P-I archives. Seattlepi.com reporter Casey McNerthney contributed to the report. Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.